My name is Andrew. Come and have a look inside my life and watch me share what is on my heart.

#Struggles is a book written to assist readers in regaining control of
their lives and their use of social media. Craig Groeschel knows that we are
becoming more addictive to all kinds of social media and we’re losing the
connection of intimate relationships and friendships. Throughout this book,
Craig explored eight Biblical values: contentment, intimacy, authenticity, integrity,
encouragement, and many more to help us learn to balance our access in using
social media.

The book begins discussing the
topic of contentment and how many of us are looking at our friend’s Facebook’s,
Pinterest, Instagram’s, and how we’re not content with what we have. We are
constantly comparing what our friends are doing and what new items they have
that we secretly want. Craig also shared an insightful survey about how
students revealed how dissatisfied they were while looking at Facebook and how
critical they felt towards themselves afterwards. The results of this survey
wasn’t that all surprising to me because I could see how people could easily become
so consumed with looking at what their friends are doing and becoming unhappy
with their own lives.

Craig Groeschel categorized people’s
envy into three categories: material and financial, relational, and circumstantial.
This part of the book really hit home to me. I will admit that I have felt
depressed while looking at what others are doing and how much farther along
they appear to be in life. It is so easy to just get online and know everything
that my friends are doing and being up to date. I realized that I struggle with
relational envy and when I’m looking on Facebook or Instagram I always see a
post about how someone else is getting into a new relationship and it’s going
really well, someone got engaged, someone posting about their happy marriage,
and someone expecting their first child. And I’m still single and can’t see to
find the bliss and happiness in a relationship that other person appears to
have. I know looking at my friends Facebook’s continuously only leaves me with
the feeling of being jealous and envying what they have that I want. At the end
of the day, I feel empty and wanting something more than I currently have. Craig
shared that, “You will battle with discontent until you let Christ be all that
you need” (Page 31). I really loved how Craig stated the importance of thanking
God for blessing the other person’s life and praying that He would continue to
do so. This is something I’m willing to do because I struggle with comparing and
envying others.

I would recommend this life
changing book to anyone who struggles with balancing their usage on social
media sites. Social media is harming our relationships and friendships. This
book will assist readers into recapturing control of their access to social
media. I loved how Craig Groeschel shared tons of scriptures throughout the
book. I liked how he presented how social media is affecting our Christian walk
and how we can fix it. We don’t have to completely cut off social media, we
just need to limit our usage and have safeguards in place. This book will guide
readers into following Christ and not being distracted by social media. If you’re
looking for an excellent book about social media and you’re wondering how to
combat all of the dangers of being too obsessed with what others are doing,
then read this book!

"I received this book free
from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers
program."

If you would like to purchase a copy of #Struggles, check it out on Amazon.com:

In Captive, Brian Nichols is in prison awaiting trial for a
rape charge. He decides to escape from prison. He shoots and kills an officer,
an agent, court reporter, and the judge overseeing his case. He recently found
out that he has a newborn son and he is in search of tracking him down. He
arrives at Ashley Smith’s apartment and he is able to capture her. He holds her
hostage and ties her up. She is able to influence Brian Nichols and she reads the
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren to him. The film also shows the backstory of
willowed, Ashley Smith and her struggle with drugs and losing custody of her
daughter.

I live North of Atlanta and I remember the events
surrounding the story of Brian Nichols and how he escape and killed four people
and was on the loose from the police. I recall everyone being concerned about dangerous
he was. I read the book a couple of months ago and I felt like the movie helped
to bring the scenes even more to life. At times, I could feel how petrified
Ashley felt in not knowing if she would get to see her daughter again. I loved
watching this movie and I liked how it contained such a strong message about
living in your God given purpose. I also liked how it showed the importance of
breaking free from any addictions and strongholds you have in your life. If you’re
looking for a new movie to check out, then read this one!

About the movie:

Based on a miraculous story about the power of faith, Captive is
an "amazing, inspiring" drama about the spiritual collision of two
lost souls, Brian Nichols (Golden Globe Nominee David Oyelowo), on the run from
police and desperate to make contact with his newborn son, takes recently
widowed mother Ashley Smith (Kata Mara) hostage in her own apartment.
Fearing for her life and desperately hoping to see her daughter
again, she turns to Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life for
guidance. Ashley and her captor face a crossroads where they
discover hope and light in the midst of despair in the moving film that Dick
Rolfe, CEO, Dove Foundation hailed as "powerful."

There are over 30 minutes of bonus content on this DVD
including Journey Through Darkness: Filming Captive and Faith
and The Purpose Driven Life. Also included with this DVD is a
Digital HD copy that can be instantly streamed and downloaded.

One of my favorite tracks was,
“Salvation’s Tide Is Rising”. This song talks about walls falling down, lost
being saved, churches arising and shining the light and message of Christ. I
liked how the track described how good it feels to accept Jesus’ forgiveness
for our countless sins and how free and clean we feel afterward. I can see this
song as being an anthem for churches and worship leaders in encouraging believers
to reach as many for Christ’s Kingdom.

Another favorite song on the
album was, “Remember” because this one discusses remembering the empty grave
Jesus was released from. It also talks about the hope that is found in our
darkest valleys and struggles of this life. Jesus has incredible power and He
has already overcome everything and we can have hope that He will prevail! I
really enjoyed the vocals from Brett Younker and Melodie Malone. I felt they
were truly singing everything they felt in their hearts.

Another favorite track was, “God
and God Alone” because this one talked about how there is one God and He is
alone is the one that saved us from our sins. This is an amazing praise song
and it a declaration about how God will be forever seated on the throne and how
every knee will bow in honor. Chris Tomlin is one of the best Christian worship
leaders and he does a great job in leading believers into worshiping their
loving Creator.

Overall I have always enjoyed
listening to Passion’s artists throughout the many years. I believe they keep
getting better and better with their writing and their vocals. Passion also has
that Heavenly choir feeling to their songs and I can only imagine this is also
what Heaven will truly sound like. This album is a wonderful worship album that
needs to be added to your collection!

About Salvation's Tide
Is Rising:

This brand new Passion album
contains new studio recordings from best-selling artists Chris Tomlin, Crowder,
Matt Redman, and Kristian Stanfill. It features new songs written
specifically for Passion 2016. Release Date is January 29, 2016.

Track List:

1. Salvation's Tide is
Rising - Passion featuring Kristian Stanfill

2. My Victory - Passion
featuring Crowder

3. Remember - Passion
featuring Brett Younker & Melodie Malone

4. God & God Alone -
Passion featuring Chris Tomlin

5. Simple Pursuit -
Passion featuring Melodie Malone

6. I Turn to Christ -
Passion featuring Matt Redman

7. Your Grace Amazes Me
- Passion featuring Christy Nockels

8. All We Sinners -
Passion featuring Crowder

9. Surrender - Passion
featuring Jimi Cravity

10. Good Good Father - Passion
featuring Kristian Stanfill

About Passion albums:

Since the first release in
1998, Passion albums have sold over 1.3 million units while introducing the
church to worship songs like "Our God", "Holy Is The Lord",
"How Great Is Our God", and "God Of This City".
Passion is coming off its best charting radio success in 5 years with the
single "Even So Come", which went Top 5.

About The Passion Movement:

The Passion Movement and the
messages of founder Louis Giglio have marked the lives of millions of people
around the globe, calling people everywhere to live for the glory of God.
From its inception, the movement of Passion has birthed new anthems of
worship, influencing countless churches and helping to define the current
worship climate and establish artists Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Matt Redman,
Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill and others. Louie Giglio is the pastor
and founder of Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA.

"Disclosure (in
accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of
Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller
Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners
and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did
receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing
address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our
sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible
to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not
eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

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Check out my blog and book reviews. I like to review Christian, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, and pretty much anything else in between. Feel free to contact me if you want me to review your books. Just check out the section "About Me". Then click "View My Complete Profile" for my email address. Thank you!

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Welcome to My Blogger:
Check out my blog and book reviews. I like to review Christian, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, and pretty much anything else in between. Feel free to contact me if you want me to review your books.